Corruption Perceptions Index 2024

Corruption Perceptions Index 2024: Persistently Low Scores and Lack of Progress in Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s score has declined from 45 points in the previous assessment to 43 points this year, keeping the country among those with high levels of public-sector corruption. This is the result of long-standing, superficial efforts and legislative changes—ostensibly aimed at adopting European standards—that actually serve the interests of kleptocratic circles.

The index, which also measures levels of political corruption, demonstrates that such corruption acts as a barrier to good governance and is incompatible with the proper functioning of democratic institutions and sustainable economic development.

Foreign investment has reached a historic low. Legitimate businesses—those committed to long-term investment and capable of positively shaping the social environment in the regions where they operate—are either leaving the country or considering doing so. This is driven by a hostile environment characterized by an increasing number of arbitrary regulations and administrative overreach, compounded by the destructive impact of legal uncertainty. Consequently, long-term, sustainable planning and investment have become impossible.

An environment where the tax burden and labor costs are unpredictable—even within the current year—and instead depend on backroom political deals designed to satisfy various overt and covert clientelist interests, renders the business climate toxic. In characterizing the current social environment, one cannot overlook the fact that, for the first time in the 36-year history of Bulgaria’s democratic transition, the rule of law depends entirely on the uncertain will of the Constitutional Court. Even the political forces represented in Parliament have called the legitimacy of the recent elections into question—to such an extent that the final decision now rests with the Constitutional Court, whose ruling remains unpredictable.

This situation also casts a shadow over the legitimacy of the political authority tasked with carrying out key reforms and making critical appointments.

The political crisis in Bulgaria over the past four years has led to the stalling and freezing of anti-corruption reforms, with key recommendations from the European Commission, the OECD, and GRECO remaining unfulfilled.

There has been no progress regarding the transparency and accountability of public spending, and commitments made to the EU remain unmet.

The country’s competitiveness is deteriorating sharply; Bulgaria has fallen 7 places in the global index in just one year.

Civil society is under pressure, and public trust in the electoral process has been shaken, posing a risk to democratic standards.

Indicators measuring the state of democracy show a significant decline, underscoring a deepening institutional crisis.

Read the full analysis for Bulgaria (in Bulgarian language).

See world CPI 2024 results at Transparency International website.